But as we’ve reached the final regular season game of 2012, the Milwaukee Brewers’ pitching staff has come within 9 strikeouts of breaking the Cubs’ 2003 record.

Our Cubs of yesteryear, however, have caught a huge break with Milwaukee choosing to sit its regularly scheduled starter, and staff ace, Yovani Gallardo (16-9, 3.66), in the final regular season game against San Diego.

Gallardo’s 204 punchouts are 5th best in the National League. Twice this season he’s struck out 10 or more batters in a game…and 7 times he’s recorded 8 or more strikeouts in a single outing.

In place of Gallardo the Brewers send right-hander Josh Stinson to the mound–to make his first major league start. In five relief appearances this season Stinson has struck out a grand total of 3 batters…a pretty good swing of fortune in the ’03 Cubs’ favor.

Meanwhile, the Padres have the 12th most strikeouts in the majors this year, two ahead of the Cubs’ (1,230) K’s. And given the Padres have accounted for 8 & 10 strikeouts over its past 2 games in Milwaukee…the Cubs’ high-water mark in K’s might just be the latest record ready to be broken.